March 21, 2025
Mr. Garbarino (for himself, Ms. Pettersen, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mrs. McClain Delaney, and Mr. Hoyer) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services
To require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue coins that are emblematic of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial and the service and sacrifice of firefighters throughout the history of the United States.
Section 101. Short title
This Act may be cited as the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Coin Act
.
Sec. 102. Coin specifications
(a) Denominations
The Secretary of the Treasury (hereafter in this Act referred to as the Secretary
) shall mint and issue the following coin:
(1) $5 gold coins
Not more than 50,000 $5 coins, which shall—
(A)
weigh 8.359 grams;
(B)
have a diameter of 0.850 inches; and
(C)
contain not less than 90 percent gold.
(2) $1 silver coins
Not more than 400,000 $1 coins, which shall—
(A)
weigh 26.73 grams;
(B)
have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and
(C)
contain not less than 90 percent silver.
(3) Half-dollar clad coins
Not more than 750,000 half-dollar coins which shall—
(A)
weigh 11.34 grams;
(B)
have a diameter of 1.205 inches; and
(C)
be minted to the specifications for half-dollar coins contained in section 5112(b) of title 31, United States Code.
(b) Legal tender
The coins minted under this Act shall be legal tender, as provided in section 5103 of title 31, United States Code.
(c) Numismatic items
For purposes of section 5134 of title 31, United States Code, all coins minted under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.
Sec. 103. Design of coins
(a) Design requirements
(1) In general
The design of the coins minted under this Act shall be emblematic of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial and the service and sacrifice of firefighters throughout the history of the United States.
(2) Designation and inscriptions
On each coin minted under this Act there shall be—
(A)
a designation of the value of the coin;
(B)
an inscription of the year 2026
; and
(C)
inscriptions of the words Liberty
, In God We Trust
, United States of America
, and E Pluribus Unum
.
(b) Selection
The design for the coins minted under this Act shall be—
(1)
selected by the Secretary after consultation with the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation; and
(2)
reviewed by the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.
Sec. 104. Issuance of coins
(a) Quality of coins
Coins minted under this Act shall be issued in uncirculated and proof qualities.
(b) Mint facilities
Only 1 facility of the United States Mint may be used to strike any particular quality of the coins minted under this Act.
(c) Period for issuance
The Secretary may issue coins minted under this Act only during the 1-year period beginning on January 1, 2026.
Sec. 105. Sale of coins
(a) Sale price
The coins issued under this Act shall be sold by the Secretary at a price equal to the sum of—
(1)
the face value of the coins;
(2)
the surcharge provided in section 106(a) with respect to such coins; and
(3)
the cost of designing and issuing the coins (including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, marketing, and shipping).
(b) Bulk sales
The Secretary shall make bulk sales of the coins issued under this Act at a reasonable discount.
(c) Prepaid orders
(1) In general
The Secretary shall accept prepaid orders for the coins minted under this Act before the issuance of such coins.
(2) Discount
Sale prices with respect to prepaid orders under paragraph (1) shall be at a reasonable discount.
Sec. 106. Surcharges
(a) In general
All sales of coins issued under this Act shall include a surcharge of—
(1)
$35 per coin for the $5 coin;
(2)
$10 per coin for the $1 coin; and
(3)
$5 per coin for the half-dollar coin.
(b) Distribution
Subject to section 5134(f)(1) of title 31, United States Code, all surcharges received by the Secretary from the sale of coins issued under this Act shall be promptly paid by the Secretary to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation to support the mission and programs of the Foundation.
(c) Audits
The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation shall be subject to the audit requirements of section 5134(f)(2) of title 31, United States Code, with regard to the amounts received under subsection (b).
(d) Limitation
Notwithstanding subsection (a), no surcharge may be included with respect to the issuance under this Act of any coin during a calendar year if, as of the time of such issuance, the issuance of such coin would result in the number of commemorative coin programs issued during such year to exceed the annual 2 commemorative coin program issuance limitation under section 5112(m)(1) of title 31, United States Code (as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act). The Secretary of the Treasury may issue guidance to carry out this subsection.
Sec. 107. Financial assurances
The Secretary shall take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that—
(1)
minting and issuing coins under this Act will not result in any net cost to the United States Government; and
(2)
no funds, including applicable surcharges, are disbursed to any recipient designated in section 106 until the total cost of designing and issuing all of the coins authorized by this Act (including labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, marketing, and shipping) is recovered by the United States Treasury, consistent with sections 5112(m) and 5134(f) of title 31, United States Code.